Best of Lexington 2011

Welcome to the 2011 Ace Best of Lexington Readers’ Poll. Every year, themes emerge in the voting and the handwritten comments. One year, the rallying cry was “bring back the Wrocklage.” (That theme continued for at least a decade, and still hasn’t fully subsided.) Every year, since 1989, there has been a constant clamor for a downtown grocery store, so it isn’t surprising that Shorty’s registered in multiple categories this year (not quite as resoundingly as the year multiple readers wrote Coach Cal into every single category, including “Best Taqueria.”)

As always, there are conflicting sentiments among the readers, sometimes even within the same ballot. New sidewalks are the “best thing to happen to downtown” according to some readers, but they are also the “best example of taxpayer wasted dollars,” in the opinion of others. “Free Enes” was both the Best UK Story of the year, and it was also the Best Example of Media Overkill. Depends on who you ask.

There are new categories this year, while old ones retire or sit out. The “Best Use for Lexington Mall” category finally disappeared this year now that the space has been allocated. The perennial winners had always been Farmers’ Market or grocery, and often, Trader Joe’s. Trader Joe’s was a chronic contender in the “best store you wish Lexington had” category, which is sitting out this year — but apparently someone was listening, as one is planned for Nicholasville Road.

Our favorite answer of the year is bumper-sticker ready, in response to the new entry Best Hipster Crossing: “Loudon is the new Jefferson.”

ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT

Best arts group 1. LEXINGTON ART LEAGUE 2. Living Arts and Science Center3. Balagula Theatre

Ace is Lexington, Kentucky’s alt newspaper. Founded in 1989, Ace is the oldest indie publication in central Kentucky’s bluegrass region, proudly sharing the best in southern literary journalism with Lexington’s best readers for over 20 years. Ace Advertising integrates two decades of print credibility with successful new media solutions for local and national advertisers. Call today to advertise in the Ace print edition, or to advertise with Ace online. 859.225.4889